Convergence 2018, Bloomington, MN, July 5-8, 2018 Members of the USS Czar’ak attended this year’s CONvergence 2018, Bloomington, MN There are Pictures of CONvergence are at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/davidkloempken/albums/72157695647462222 There are also pictures from the Con at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/convergence-con/albums And more here: https://convergencecon.tumblr.com/

Members of the USS Czar’ak attended this year’s Manticon 2018, Bloomington, MN There are Pictures of Manticon 2018 are at https://www.flickr.com/photos/davidkloempken/albums/72157667419225197/with/42364658771/

MarsCon is a fan-run science fiction convention for all ages held every March in the Twin Cities area. At MarsCon you’ll find panel discussions, parties, guest of honor presentations, music of many kinds, our art show, film/anime room, science room, dealers room, charity auction, and masquerade. The Dementia track is virtually a con in itself. Mix and mingle with a few hundred of your favorite fanish friends at MarsCon!

Our theme for 2016 is Parallel Dimensions. In our ordinary 3-D world, things have height, width, and depth; these dimensions are rarely parallel. In Plotworlds, things can get a bit… different, what with dimensions getting mirrored, duplicated, suplimented, duplicated, distorted, duplicated, and twisted back on themselves. We’re giving you room to play—we’re sure you’ll come up with novel interpretations of parallel.

Recruiter of the Year

Community Service Award

Party Barge

Robert Westfall

Despite some rain early on, the KS Sector Picnic went off without a hitch and a great time was had by all.

28 members, from 10 chapters and 3 regions came together for good food, fun, and friendship. The thanks of myself and the rest of the crew of the Katana go to the members of the Aux Arc, Czar’ak (R06), Dark Phoenix, Discovery, Horizon, Jeannette Maddox, Katana, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Retribution Station (R03).

In addition to stuffing ourselves with hamburgers, hot dogs, sausages, baked beans, chili, potato salad, coleslaw, chips, cake, and cookies two groups pitted themselves against each other in a spirited game of Geek Out. While the team lead by BDR Donovan proved to not be quite “geeky” enough to defeat the team led by ADM Westfall… but it didn’t really matter, the whole cookout was populated by irrepressible geekishness.

COMM Michelle Westfall was surprised with a promotion to Rear Admiral – which I had nothing to do with, thus do not have to sleep on the couch until Rura Penthe’s temperature equals that of the Mojave Desert on a July afternoon.

Also, the first Pennies for Potential “Cutest Mascot” Pageant was held, with 6 mascots competing for the first “title” – though the start of the pageant delayed until one of the contestants was able to be rescued from their horrific imprisonment in a mini-van.